Is There Anything Good About Being a Man?

[Gralian]

Two words: Glass Ceiling. For women, this can mean getting paid less for doing the same job as a man despite producing an equal amount of work, or it can mean being unable to climb the career ladder purely on the basis of her sex. This is slowly being eroded, but women have only just gained real rights; it wasn't that long ago that people would have been shocked at the idea of a female lawyer or doctor, not to mention the pervading idea that 'women were property' that you still see in other cultures today.

In other words, men have had the benefit of being forever in a globally patriarchal society and haven't had to fight for anything in an oppressive environment the same way that women have.

 

[Griffolion]

I am writing a feature in journalism about being a man, and I wanted to hear people's thoughts. I won't use names, but if you want your name in a small town news paper give me the okay.

When someone asked me if there was anything good about being a man, I was stumped. The only thing that came to mind was the fact that we didn't have to deal with "Aunt Ruby coming to town".

But all joking aside, what are the upsides of being a male

Men and women are equal. Not sure what the question is here?

Biologically:

Stronger
More spatially aware
No birthing pains / difficult menstrual cycles

Societally:

Still slightly favoured when it comes to job salary
Statistically more likely to be in positions of high power (though nothing stops women attaining this, read "Margaret Thatcher")

Trivia:

We don't need to go to public toilets in packs

 

[Talshere]

Two words: Glass Ceiling. For women, this can mean getting paid less for doing the same job as a man despite producing an equal amount of work, or it can mean being unable to climb the career ladder purely on the basis of her sex. This is slowly being eroded, but women have only just gained real rights; it wasn't that long ago that people would have been shocked at the idea of a female lawyer or doctor, not to mention the pervading idea that 'women were property' that you still see in other cultures today.

In other words, men have had the benefit of being forever in a globally patriarchal society and haven't had to fight for anything in an oppressive environment the same way that women have.

You realise that for most of the industrial revolution era the majority of London's boroughs were actually matriarchal right?

I think glass ceiling are pretty much gone now tbh (Im Britain). A few old prunes might still hang on to dead ideas but theyll be dead soon and thats what courts are for. Statistically, it has been shown that in most area where men are paid more its because men are more likely to ask for more money, while women simple believe that if they deserve it theyll get it. Most companies dont work like that. Its spending money that they dont need too.

 

[Vault101]

Fuking cloths shopping

seriously I envy all of you...you dont have to think, its so simple, jeans/t shirt apropriate for ALOT of occasions, and shows..nice sneaker that enclose your feet and are comfy for a chick that kind of outfit isnt considered apropriate at all

its complicated...I STILL dont get it and they dont make game-t shirts to fit you...in fact finding s decent t shirt can be hard

for more info

http://www.cracked.com/blog/the-7-most-baffling-things-about-womens-clothes/

so you dont realise how good youve got it

ENTERTAINMENT

games, comics, movies its all targeted with YOU in mind...not to say theres no universal apeal..but there always that slight Bias

 

[Nouw]

We get to be as swift as a coursing river, with all the force of a great typhoon, with all the strength of a raging fire, mysterious as the dark side of the moon.

Fuck yeah! This is why it's great to be a man. Here's the TFS version.

 

[maddawg IAJI]

snip

I disagree with the video on all points tbh. As a Brit, I feel that all of those things are generally open to all people.

Some of them are just dumb. For example if we take the "When talking about our civilization I can see my race made it what it is" or however she worded it, well depending on the term "civilisation" this is either pointless or a staggering yes to all cultures more or less. Now if we are talking about the inception of Britain as a state, it only stands to reason that no race other than white Christian and possibly some Hispanic people were involved. Because, you know, oceans are big and hard to cross. It was 1707. People rarely travelled more than 1 or 2 villages never mind whole continents. Conversely, all the great empire of the past baring only Rome were African, Middle Eastern or Asian in origin. Empires like Persia, China, the Japanese, Egypt Greece, Byzantine, Mongolia, India were all so advanced it would be hundreds and with some things even 1000+ years before the knowledge they possessed be held again. In fact, very very VERY few of the old Empires were "white" in geographical origin.

To be frank, as a Brit, I think the list is bull.

The question is asking if you, as a white european, have his race represented in most lectures of history.

To me, the question is yes, but that is because I'm white, and in history classes prior to College, we rarely even cover anything east of Greece or South of Italy, meaning Blacks and Asians rarely got to hear the history of their own races. The only time in high school that you see a larger focus on a minority group here is during the Civil war and Rights Movements, but those are only extremely small portions of history and completely ignore actual Black culture.

But that is besides the point, you're over complicating it. The question asked if you, as a white European, if your race and culture are represented in most history books. The answer is yes.

 

[Jaeke]

You get to dick around alot
/trollface

 

[Talshere]

snip

I disagree with the video on all points tbh. As a Brit, I feel that all of those things are generally open to all people.

Some of them are just dumb. For example if we take the "When talking about our civilization I can see my race made it what it is" or however she worded it, well depending on the term "civilisation" this is either pointless or a staggering yes to all cultures more or less. Now if we are talking about the inception of Britain as a state, it only stands to reason that no race other than white Christian and possibly some Hispanic people were involved. Because, you know, oceans are big and hard to cross. It was 1707. People rarely travelled more than 1 or 2 villages never mind whole continents. Conversely, all the great empire of the past baring only Rome were African, Middle Eastern or Asian in origin. Empires like Persia, China, the Japanese, Egypt Greece, Byzantine, Mongolia, India were all so advanced it would be hundreds and with some things even 1000+ years before the knowledge they possessed be held again. In fact, very very VERY few of the old Empires were "white" in geographical origin.

To be frank, as a Brit, I think the list is bull.

The question is asking if you, as a white european, have his race represented in most lectures of history.

To me, the question is yes, but that is because I'm white, and in history classes prior to College, we rarely even cover anything east of Greece or South of Italy, meaning Blacks and Asians rarely got to hear the history of their own races. The only time in high school that you see a larger focus on a minority group here is during the Civil war and Rights Movements, but those are only extremely small portions of history and completely ignore actual Black culture.

But that is besides the point, you're over complicating it. The question asked if you, as a white European, if your race and culture are represented in most history books. The answer is yes.

Ill tell you what though, if you go to china THEY DISCRIMINATE AGAINST YOU!!!! Because they teach THEIR OWN HISTORY. Seriously its only normal that a country would teach the most relevant history to it. Ultimately, Egyptian, Byzantine, Chinese, Mongolian, Aztec civilisations are only relevant to most European cultures in a roundabout way, plus its difficult for kids to relate to because the culture is alien to your own. Its hard enough for most adults who are into manga to understand Japanese culture and we are ideal placed of all the people in Europe to do so.

Personally, I always found "recent" history to be fairly dull outside of WWII. Id have rather done Roman, Persian, Greek or Egyptian in secondary school. Fact is, its culturally irrelevant. Even the Romans who we have many throwback from bare little resemblance to much of our defining history which started around 900AD.

What do you suggest we do then, since outside of minority revolutions they DID take little if any role in shaping history because THEY WERE NOT ALLOW TO HOLD POSITIONS OF POWER! Do you suggest we lie to make them feel better? Invent a role for them to fill? How degrading would that be by comparison? Awwww we feel bad for you have a cookie.

Most MODERN history books feature predominantly white history because for this one tiny segment of history, really for the first time, Europe was more technologically advanced then everyone else, while also having the technology to cross the previously impenetrable barrier of the oceans. Technologically superior civilizations conquer let technologically advanced one. It is a matter of luck alone that it just so happened that the time its stuck it started in Europe.

If I study ancient history my race isnt represented in books....Its all about North Africans, Middle Eastern and Asian people. Can you invent me a history please so I can be more equally represented in the development of the human race at its inception. Its clear discriminatory that the dawn of civilisation was dominated by Asian and Middle Eastern cultures.


Can you not see how retarded this argument is!?

 

[ms_sunlight]

To be frank, as a Brit, I think the list is bull.

Also a Brit. I don't. You don't think that because you're British, you think that because you're you.

 

[StBishop]

I dunno, I've only ever been a dude, so I have no point of comparison.

You get called sexist more if you're a dude, some people will also respect your authority more readily, and also your opinion if you work in the video game industry in any way unfortunately.

People are less likely to sexually assault you if you're male.

You're more likely to be taken seriously in professional sports as well as plenty of other industries.

 

[Talshere]

To be frank, as a Brit, I think the list is bull.

Also a Brit. I don't. You don't think that because you're British, you think that because you're you.

Touché

It is an important distinction to make however because I acknowledge for example that in the US the situation is a bit different. They had the slave trade in a way we didnt, it was significantly later 60 to 100+ years depending on which British anti slave act you take and we never really had apartheid in any form in the UK.

As a result social intricacies are different. Since I only have experience as a British citizen, it is beyond my ability to comment on the social dynamics of other nations.


Would you like me to make you a point by point list of why I think its bull?

 

[ShadowStar42]

snip

I disagree with the video on all points tbh. As a Brit, I feel that all of those things are generally open to all people.

Some of them are just dumb. For example if we take the "When talking about our civilization I can see my race made it what it is" or however she worded it, well depending on the term "civilisation" this is either pointless or a staggering yes to all cultures more or less. Now if we are talking about the inception of Britain as a state, it only stands to reason that no race other than white Christian and possibly some Hispanic people were involved. Because, you know, oceans are big and hard to cross. It was 1707. People rarely travelled more than 1 or 2 villages never mind whole continents. Conversely, all the great empire of the past baring only Rome were African, Middle Eastern or Asian in origin. Empires like Persia, China, the Japanese, Egypt Greece, Byzantine, Mongolia, India were all so advanced it would be hundreds and with some things even 1000+ years before the knowledge they possessed be held again. In fact, very very VERY few of the old Empires were "white" in geographical origin.

To be frank, as a Brit, I think the list is bull.

Well, I'm not British but just looking at the first item on the list with a 90% White population (as of 2007) that certainly applies. I'd lay down heavy odds that 6 applies, I haven't watched a lot of British TV but the actors are majority white. The majority of the rest would of course depend on how racist the people in your local community are, but I know that racists do exist pretty much everywhere including there so many of them apply likely at least occasionally.

Also, your point on history is worthy, yeah in a white country the history will primarily be white intrinsically, but that doesn't make it not privilege, it only makes it unfortunately unavoidable.

 

[CAPTCHA]

We've got a naturally growing facial accessory.

 

[maddawg IAJI]

snip

I disagree with the video on all points tbh. As a Brit, I feel that all of those things are generally open to all people.

Some of them are just dumb. For example if we take the "When talking about our civilization I can see my race made it what it is" or however she worded it, well depending on the term "civilisation" this is either pointless or a staggering yes to all cultures more or less. Now if we are talking about the inception of Britain as a state, it only stands to reason that no race other than white Christian and possibly some Hispanic people were involved. Because, you know, oceans are big and hard to cross. It was 1707. People rarely travelled more than 1 or 2 villages never mind whole continents. Conversely, all the great empire of the past baring only Rome were African, Middle Eastern or Asian in origin. Empires like Persia, China, the Japanese, Egypt Greece, Byzantine, Mongolia, India were all so advanced it would be hundreds and with some things even 1000+ years before the knowledge they possessed be held again. In fact, very very VERY few of the old Empires were "white" in geographical origin.

To be frank, as a Brit, I think the list is bull.

The question is asking if you, as a white european, have his race represented in most lectures of history.

To me, the question is yes, but that is because I'm white, and in history classes prior to College, we rarely even cover anything east of Greece or South of Italy, meaning Blacks and Asians rarely got to hear the history of their own races. The only time in high school that you see a larger focus on a minority group here is during the Civil war and Rights Movements, but those are only extremely small portions of history and completely ignore actual Black culture.

But that is besides the point, you're over complicating it. The question asked if you, as a white European, if your race and culture are represented in most history books. The answer is yes.

Ill tell you what though, if you go to china THEY DISCRIMINATE AGAINST YOU!!!! Because they teach THEIR OWN HISTORY. Seriously its only normal that a country would teach the most relevant history to it. Ultimately, Egyptian, Byzantine, Chinese, Mongolian, Aztec civilisations are only relevant to most European cultures in a roundabout way, plus its difficult for kids to relate to because the culture is alien to your own. Its hard enough for most adults who are into manga to understand Japanese culture and we are ideal placed of all the people in Europe to do so.

Personally, I always found "recent" history to be fairly dull outside of WWII. Id have rather done Roman, Persian, Greek or Egyptian in secondary school. Fact is, its culturally irrelevant. Even the Romans who we have many throwback from bare little resemblance to much of our defining history which started around 900AD.

What do you suggest we do then, since outside of minority revolutions they DID take little if any role in shaping history because THEY WERE NOT ALLOW TO HOLD POSITIONS OF POWER! Do you suggest we lie to make them feel better? Invent a role for them to fill? How degrading would that be by comparison? Awwww we feel bad for you have a cookie.

Most MODERN history books feature predominantly white history because for this one tiny segment of history, really for the first time, Europe was more technologically advanced then everyone else, while also having the technology to cross the previously impenetrable barrier of the oceans. Technologically superior civilizations conquer let technologically advanced one. It is a matter of luck alone that it just so happened that the time its stuck it started in Europe.

If I study ancient history my race isnt represented in books....Its all about North Africans, Middle Eastern and Asian people. Can you invent me a history please so I can be more equally represented in the development of the human race at its inception. Its clear discriminatory that the dawn of civilisation was dominated by Asian and Middle Eastern cultures.


Can you not see how retarded this argument is!?

Were you not listening to what I said at all? History teachers in high school do teach world history as a requirement. The problem is that the world seems to be completely focused on Europe. Its not until you get to college that you begin to even think about studying an Asian civilization such as the Guptas or the Han Dynasty. Most African cultures have either been destroyed, ignored or forgotten. Most Mayan, Aztec and Inca cultures are completely foriegn to the average American and most Americans couldn't even tell you about the Qin, Han or Zhou dynasties, let alone who found them and what was so significant about each one. In country such as America, where diversity is extremely prevalent, this is an example of white privilege.

Maybe you're not understanding the fact that these questions were meant to be asked to the average American white person and not to a European, especially a British man living in the United Kingdom, which is made up of 92% white Europeans.

 

[RatRace123]

Well, we don't have to shave our chests.

 

[Chromanin]

Well, back in the day, before men had to be equal with women, men had a pretty good thing going. We were aggressive and warlike, and it was acceptable because we were men. That's just how we rolled. "If you see Buddha on the road, kill him!" Do what comes natural, the essence of Bushido, the essence of being a man.

Now? Well, we're still naturally more muscular and produce more testosterone and adrenaline. A penis can be a cumbersome device, even a burden at times, but it's nice for its simple design and convenience when relieving onself. I can't imagine what a hassle it would be if I had to wipe every time a took a piss.

 

[Talshere]

snip

I disagree with the video on all points tbh. As a Brit, I feel that all of those things are generally open to all people.

Some of them are just dumb. For example if we take the "When talking about our civilization I can see my race made it what it is" or however she worded it, well depending on the term "civilisation" this is either pointless or a staggering yes to all cultures more or less. Now if we are talking about the inception of Britain as a state, it only stands to reason that no race other than white Christian and possibly some Hispanic people were involved. Because, you know, oceans are big and hard to cross. It was 1707. People rarely travelled more than 1 or 2 villages never mind whole continents. Conversely, all the great empire of the past baring only Rome were African, Middle Eastern or Asian in origin. Empires like Persia, China, the Japanese, Egypt Greece, Byzantine, Mongolia, India were all so advanced it would be hundreds and with some things even 1000+ years before the knowledge they possessed be held again. In fact, very very VERY few of the old Empires were "white" in geographical origin.

To be frank, as a Brit, I think the list is bull.

Well, I'm not British but just looking at the first item on the list with a 90% White population (as of 2007) that certainly applies. I'd lay down heavy odds that 6 applies, I haven't watched a lot of British TV but the actors are majority white. The majority of the rest would of course depend on how racist the people in your local community are, but I know that racists do exist pretty much everywhere including there so many of them apply likely at least occasionally.

Also, your point on history is worthy, yeah in a white country the history will primarily be white intrinsically, but that doesn't make it not privilege, it only makes it unfortunately unavoidable.

To your first point, discrimination goes both way heavily. In my minorities, and this is a idea I have had expressed to me verbally, "only white people can be racits" This idea and others I have heard expressed personally and second hand jade me to this opinion. Yeah discrimination occurs but I'm fairly certain its equally expressed on all sides. Yet I do believe the majority are no longer racist. This, generally, this is no longer an issue.

Many of the issues are racist in and of themselves. "My race is not featured in the new" by definition items of NEWS are in the news. If you your first though it no black people in this paper you are intrinsically making a racist remark. But again this is compounded by the minorities themselves. My brother, sister and I all worked for an Indian family at the corner shop for many years at different times. We became and still are good friends. This did open my eyes somewhat as Ive spent a lot of time with their daughter who is younger then me but near enough my age that we can talk and I learnt a lot. She grew up in Southall, or Little India as its known and they are VERY segregated. All the aspects of I feel unwelcome, I feel like Im followed, these are comments my sister made after she visited Southall. Men tended to leer and she got discussed look because of her jeans. A textiles shop attempted to hike the price on my mother in Southall before our friends mother stepped in and told them to sell it at the India price. I shit you not this actually happened.

On top of all this and to bring me back to the "News" segment 2 paragraphs ago, roughly half the population of Southall if not slightly more cannot speak English to a level most of us would accept for everyday communication. Many only speak Punjabi. Does it surprise you then that this sub culture doesn't get a lot of news time? Its completely and totally alien to the majority of the nations population and they seem to actively prevent outsides from coming in. How then are reporters supposed to interact to gain stories?

The daughter is desperate to move away for uni so she can get out and in her opinion this will be her last real chance without being excommunicated. This is a real concern for her and actually happened to her uncle.


Ok the list MAY have true points but:

1: may of the opinions expressed are intrinsically racist to begin with.
2: Minority's create for lack of a better term ghettoes. They either actively or by means of culture prevent other from entering.

I will reiterate for like the 6th time in 2 days on these forums.

DISCRIMINATION IS A TWO WAY PROBLEM! IF WE CANNOT STOP SEEING RACISM IN EVERYTHING IT WILL NEVER STOP!

At some point people need to go, no that wasn't racially motivated, its just a punch up between drunks. Better yet, the idea that it MIGHT be racially motivated should never even occur to any but the person charged with investigation.



To your second point which seems to have gone by the by here so Ill quote again:

Also, your point on history is worthy, yeah in a white country the history will primarily be white intrinsically, but that doesn't make it not privilege, it only makes it unfortunately unavoidable.

It doesn't make it a privilege it makes it history, the fact that you view it as a privilege is because you apply a correction based on skin colour and so are being intrinsically racist. There is nothing racist, at all, ever, about telling a truthful fact based history regardless of the origin of those involved. "IT" isnt racist. YOU ARE!

 

[Forgetitnow344]

I don't know. From observation, it seems that guys are alot less stressed in general. Plus we can pee standing up.

No, it's not that we can pee standing... It's that we can pee standing outside the bathroom stall.

 

[Talshere]

Were you not listening to what I said at all? History teachers in high school do teach world history as a requirement. The problem is that the world seems to be completely focused on Europe. Its not until you get to college that you begin to even think about studying an Asian civilization such as the Guptas or the Han Dynasty. Most African cultures have either been destroyed, ignored or forgotten. Most Mayan, Aztec and Inca cultures are completely foriegn to the average American and most Americans couldn't even tell you about the Qin, Han or Zhou dynasties, let alone who found them and what was so significant about each one. In country such as America, where diversity is extremely prevalent, this is an example of white privilege.

Maybe you're not understanding the fact that these questions were meant to be asked to the average American white person and not to a European, especially a British man living in the United Kingdom, which is made up of 92% white Europeans.

I was listening. You were failing to understand. There is no point teaching vastly different cultural histories to children. They will not understand. These other cultures are based on entirely different founding principles and beliefs.

If I got you to sit down and study, in depth the works of Tolkin and all cannon related fan fic in depth to the point you even learnt the languages, then asked you to write a book on the history and lore of Fiest's elves. Could you do it? I mean they are both elves right? They live a long time and are magical right?

No because while they are the same race technically their story and background their origins are vastly different you wouldn't be able to understand the reasoning behind even their most basic actions because you have no founding in it. This is similar to asking a child to learn the history of a vastly different culture. Even at 12 some children have not fully developed a theory of mind, there ability to rationalise the idea that other people dont think like they do, they dont rationalise like they do, they can commit a terrible act unknowingly and its not their fault because they could never have known. Its also irrelevant. It teaches nothing about THEIR world, because unless you have an exceptionally well travelled child the chances are their experiences with the world will be in their own country, a few identical culture neighbouring ones and possibly a few sudo-home nation holiday resorts in somewhere hot that is so trailered to their own countries culture that it might as well be to a child's eyes.

Learning about the War of Roses, WWI, WWII, Rome, 1066, William Wilberforce, Cromwell. This teaches the child about their immediate surrounding, helps them understand their OWN culture. Once you because sure in who you are, your ideas, your morals THEN you explore cultures that are alien to you because you now have a reference, something to relate to, you have developed that you can RATIONALISE their behaviours even if you dont agree with them and this breed understanding. Like it or not by living in the UK outside of an isolated cultural getto they have adopted UK culture and history, it must be their ground, we are not equipped to teach tribal African culture and they have no grounding in it anyway BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT TRIBAL AFRICANS THEY ARE BRITISH!

I will assume for the argument of this that you are a manga fan. Most people here are to come degree. So, this makes you more suited than almost all European and American people to understand Japan.

So tell me:
What throwbacks have the Samurai ways impressed on modern Japan.
What were the impacts of WWII socially.
What is the primary religion? How does this relate to their belief of spirits.

These are INCREDIBLY complex questions, one that are so difficult to understand because we approach life differently. Most people would have to research extensively to answer these questions. Yet they are intrinsic in understanding why Japan is what it is and you want to try and get CHILDREN to understand this!?


EDIT: Ill take this on the end, despite the fact that I reference here all British example because, you know, amazingly I'm not acquainted with extensive US history being British at all, kinda making my point. They are all as equally applicable the the US. But being in the US are are US Citizens. Not Africans, cultures is learnt from family, that fine, but history has to be local to begin with for all points raised about. The fact that you BELIEVE they need a different set of history and THEY believe they need a set of history only emphasises that neither of you really consider them as American in the same way the average white person. That bull. They are. History is history. Stop treating them like they NEED these other examples. They are NOT Africans, they are AMERICANS! Generic American history is fine because it covers all the important points, all the major turning points, all the DEFINING points that makes the USA what it is day and THAT is what they need.